Leika Kihara

Bank of Japan Deputy Governor Masayoshi Amamiya on Thursday stressed the need to keep monetary policy ultra-loose due to uncertainty on whether wages will increase enough to compensate households for the rising cost of living.

Bank of Japan policymakers saw wage hikes as key to sustainably achieve their 2% inflation target, minutes of the June meeting showed, underscoring the bank's resolve to keep interest rates ultra-low despite growing signs of price pressure.

The Bank of Japan has reshuffled its board and brought in a new member seen as more keen to end ultra-low interest rates than his dovish predecessor, potentially tilting the board away from Governor Haruhiko Kuroda's aggressive monetary easing policy.

The Bank of Japan's two new policymakers said on Monday the central bank needs an exit strategy from its massive stimulus, a sign the board's balance could tilt in favour of a withdrawal of Governor Haruhiko Kuroda's radical monetary easing.

Worries over a global slowdown are casting a shadow over Asia's recovery prospects with factory activity growth slowing in Japan and Australia, keeping pressure on policymakers to support their economies while tightening monetary policy to combat inflation.

The Bank of Japan is set to raise its inflation forecast on Thursday but maintain ultra-low interest rates and warn of risks to a fragile economy, reinforcing its position as an outlier in a wave of global increases to borrowing costs.

The Bank of Japan raised its inflation forecast on Thursday but maintained ultra-low interest rates and warned of risks to a fragile economy, reinforcing its position as an outlier in a wave of global central bank policy tightening.

The Bank of Japan projected inflation to exceed its target this year in fresh forecasts issued on Thursday, but maintained ultra-low interest rates and signalled its resolve to remain an outlier in a wave of global central bank policy tightening.

The Bank of Japan projected inflation would exceed its target this year in fresh forecasts issued on Thursday, but maintained ultra-low interest rates and signalled its resolve to remain an outlier in a wave of global central banks' policy tightening.

The Bank of Japan (BOJ) is expected to reiterate its resolve next week to keep monetary policy ultra-loose and remain a dovish outlier as many other central banks raise interest rates, a commitment that could lead to further falls in the yen.

Japan's yen-based import prices surged at a record pace in June, data showed on Tuesday, keeping wholesale inflation elevated as the currency's sharp slump continued to weigh on a fragile economic recovery by boosting commodity costs.

Bank of Japan (BOJ) Governor Haruhiko Kuroda on Monday warned of "very high uncertainty" over the economic outlook and stressed anew the central bank's readiness to ramp up stimulus as needed to underpin a fragile recovery.

The death of Shinzo Abe, namesake of Japan's "Abenomics" policy, makes any immediate challenge to his legacy highly unlikely but could eventually allow Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to phase out Abe's government spending and monetary stimulus.

The death of Shinzo Abe, namesake of Japan's "Abenomics" policy, makes any immediate challenge to his legacy highly unlikely but could eventually allow Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to phase out Abe's government spending and monetary stimulus.

Asia's manufacturing activity stalled in June as many companies were hit by supply disruptions caused by China's strict COVID-19 lockdowns, while sharp economic slowdown risks in Europe and the United States reinforced fears of a global recession.

Global factory growth stalled in June as higher prices and a darker economic outlook left consumers wary of making purchases while China's strict COVID-19 lockdowns and Russia's invasion of Ukraine added to supply chain disruptions, surveys showed.

Global factory growth stalled in June as higher prices and a darker economic outlook left consumers wary of making purchases, while China's strict COVID-19 lockdowns and Russia's invasion of Ukraine added to supply chain disruptions, surveys showed.

The Bank of Japan will maintain its ultra-loose monetary policy as the economy has not been affected much by the global inflationary trend, Governor Haruhiko Kuroda said, stressing the country's 15-year experience with deflation is keeping wage growth subdued.

Many Bank of Japan (BOJ) policymakers saw stronger wage growth as key to sustaining the bank's 2% inflation goal, according to a summary of opinions expressed at a June meeting, underscoring their resolve to maintain ultra-low interest rates.

The Bank of Japan must closely watch the impact currency moves could have on the economy, its deputy governor Masayoshi Amamiya said on Friday, reiterating a warning over the damage the currency's fall to 24-year lows may have on a fragile recovery.

Japan's factory activity growth slowed to a four-month low in June as China's COVID-19 curbs disrupted supply chains, while many other economies in Asia were also facing headwinds amid growing risks to the outlook from a potential U.S.

The yen's rapid decline was among key topics of debate at the Bank of Japan's April policy meeting with some board members fretting that excessive volatility could disrupt corporate business plans, minutes of the meeting showed on Wednesday.

The Bank of Japan is likely to maintain ultra-low interest rates on Friday and stress its resolve to support a fragile economy with massive stimulus, a move that may spark a renewed yen fall by highlighting a policy divergence with the rest of the world.

Japan's government hopes the central bank will take "necessary measures appropriately" in light of the yen's recent sharp falls and rising cost of living, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said on Wednesday.

The Bank of Japan is likely to keep interest rates ultra-low on Friday, unfazed by a relentless fall in the yen that is boosting import costs and shows little sign of abating while other central banks around the world withdraw monetary stimulus.

The decision over who will be the Bank Japan's next chief will likely focus on two career central bankers whose different policy approaches and track records could affect the timing of an eventual exit from ultra-easy monetary policy.

Japan's wholesale prices rose 9.1% in May from a year earlier, slowing from the previous month's increase as the recent spike in fuel costs moderated, data showed on Friday.

Japan's wholesale inflation moderated in May but yen-based import prices surged at a record annual pace, data showed, underlining that the currency's slump was becoming a major strain for the economy heavily reliant on commodity imports.

Japan's wholesale inflation moderated in May but yen-based import prices surged at a record annual pace, data showed on Friday, a sign the currency's sharp decline was adding to strain for the economy heavily reliant on commodity imports.